Public Works Minister Calls for Engineers to Return Home at CESA Infrastructure Indaba

9 April 2025: There is an urgent need for a proactive and resilient approach to infrastructure maintenance in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), particularly in light of recurring floods that have exposed significant vulnerabilities in the region’s roads, bridges, and water systems.

This is according to Consulting Engineers South Africa’s (CESA) President, David Leukes, during the industry body’s recent branch visit to KZN, where he presented under the theme: “Collaborating for the Future We Want: Mobilising for Sustainable Development.”

“Across the country –  and more especially here in KZN – the recurring floods over the past several years have underscored the urgent need for a more proactive and resilient approach to infrastructure maintenance, embedded within a comprehensive life-cycle framework,” said Leukes. “Much of our infrastructure was designed for historical weather patterns and is now overwhelmed by the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, which continue to be exacerbated by climate change.”

Click here to download the full press release in a Word document format.